Journalist Faces Felony Robbery Charges Still Publishing

Issued:
2018-03-05

Arvind Dilawar was arrested in October 2017 and charged with stealing the cellphone of a right-wing counter-protester

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Journalist Arvind Dilawar has continued to work as a contributor at The Nation magazine despite facing felony robbery charges for an incident that took place at an anti-Trump protest last fall at New York’s Columbia University.

Dilawar’s first piece for The Nation, “Here’s One Union That Can’t Be Touched by ‘Right to Work’ Laws,” was published on November 6, 2017 — one week after he was was arrested and charged with second-degree robbery, a felony, and possession of stolen property, according to court records. A second piece from Dilawar was published on February 16.

A spokesperson for The Nation declined to comment on Dilawar’s status with the outlet and whether editors were aware of his ongoing criminal case. “He was an intern at one point,” said a person who answered the phone at ‘The Nation’ offices on Monday. “Now only a contributor.”

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Dilawar, a Brooklyn-based journalist whose work has appeared in in Newsweek, Vice and The Guardian, is due to appear in New York Criminal Court next week, according to court records.

Police told the New York Post that on October 30, 2017 Dilawar swiped the cellphone of a woman who was recording a right-wing counter-protester and then ran off with it.

“The defendant forcibly stole property and in the course of the commission of the crime and immediate flight therefrom the defendant or another participant in the crime caused physical injury to a person who was not a participant in the crime,” reads a copy of the official complaint.

Dilawar did not respond to multiple requests for comment and appears to have deactivated his Facebook, Twitter and personal web page. On a Gravatar account that is still available, Dilawar described himself as a “writer/editor/anarchist.”

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Dilawar has also contributed to the blog StreetCarnage.com, co-founded by Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes. McInnes has since become an icon of alt-right trolls and regularly makes headlines for remarks that many have called racist, sexist, xenophobic ad misogynistic.

McInnes folded up the site officially last month.

In one post from 2009 under the name “Arv,” which is attributed to Dilawar’s now deleted Twitter page, the journalist complains of becoming “blackout drunk” at a party and being forced to wear a “gay” t-shirt because he had soiled the one he was wearing with “sweat and booze.”

“If you’ve seen a shirt that can out fag this one, send me pics,” he wrote.

McInnes had only praise for Dilawar. “Great guy,” he told TheWrap. “Good worker. Smart kid. One of the best hires I ever made.”

From fellow politicians to Oscar winners and musicians, President Donald Trump casts a wide net in his internet insultery.

Rahm Emanuel

On Jan. 2, Trump tweeted, "Chicago murder rate is record setting - 4,331 shooting victims with 762 murders in 2016. If Mayor can't do it he must ask for Federal help!"The swipe at Emanuel allowed Trump to take a shot both at an elected Democratic Mayor, and his predecessor (for whom Rahm served as Chief of Staff.)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

On May 9, Trump tweeted, "Cryin' Chuck Schumer stated recently, "I do not have confidence in him (James Comey) any longer." Then acts so indignant. #draintheswamp"

The Senate Minority leader has become a frequent critic of — and thus a frequent target for — Trump

Arnold Schwarzenegger

On Feb. 3, Trump tweeted, "Yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger did a really bad job as Governor of California and even worse on the Apprentice...but at least he tried hard!The terminator has had some tough words for Trump and so the president hit back where it hurts — Schwarzenegger's ratings for "The Apprentice" (which he briefly hosted).

Meryl Streep

On Jan. 9, Trump tweeted, "Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesn't know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes.

Streep had some choice words for Trump during her speech at the Golden Globes and the president noticed.

Rep. John Lewis

On Jan. 14, Trump tweeted, "Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart..."

The Congressman vowed to boycott Trump's inauguration, infuriating the newly elected president.

Chelsea Manning

On Jan. 26, Trump tweeted, "Ungrateful TRAITOR Chelsea Manning, who should never have been released from prison, is now calling President Obama a weak leader. Terrible!"

Trump, it seems, was not a fan of President Obama's decision to commute Manning's sentence.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal

On Feb. 9, Trump tweeted, "Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie), now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?"

Blumenthal is a near constant presence on MSNBC criticizing Trump — so this counterpunch was pretty much inevitable.

Mark Cuban

On Feb. 12, Trump tweeted, "I know Mark Cuban well. He backed me big-time but I wasn't interested in taking all of his calls. He's not smart enough to run for president!"Cuban, a fellow billionaire and Hillary Clinton ally has made a point of getting under Trump's skin throughout 2017.

DNC Chairman Thomas Perez

On Feb. 25, Trump tweeted, "Congratulations to Thomas Perez, who has just been named Chairman of the DNC. I could not be happier for him, or for the Republican Party!

Nothing personal here, just a bit of trolling

Barack Obama

On March 4, Trump tweeted:

"How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!"

Trump went easier on his predecessor overall in 2017 — but he didn't' entirely forget about him.

Johnston — who got a rare subtweet from Trump — appeared on MSNBC with Rachel Maddow to discuss a portion of the president's 2005 tax return.

Snoop Dogg

On March 15, Trump tweeted, "Can you imagine what the outcry would be if @SnoopDogg, failing career and all, had aimed and fired the gun at President Obama? Jail time!" The President apparently didn't care for a music video Snoop made in which the rapper seemingly shoots a fake Donald Trump.

Freedom Caucus Representatives

On March 30, Trump tweeted, "If @RepMarkMeadows, @Jim_Jordan and @Raul_Labrador would get on board we would have both great healthcare and massive tax cuts & reform."

As negotiations over the GOP effort to repeal Obamacare dragged on, Trump often trained his ire at the recalcitrant Republican Freedom Caucus.

Chuck Todd

On April 1, Trump tweeted, "When will Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd and @NBCNews start talking about the Obama SURVEILLANCE SCANDAL and stop with the Fake Trump/Russia story?"

Todd told TheWrap he has no idea why Trump calls him Sleepy Eyes and says the president doesn't remember either.

Jon Ossoff

On April 18, Trump tweeted, "Democrat Jon Ossoff would be a disaster in Congress. VERY weak on crime and illegal immigration, bad for jobs and wants higher taxes. Say NO."

On May 10, Trump tweeted, "James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI."

Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in May and has been angry at him ever since.

Kathy Griffin

On May 31, Trump tweeted, "Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself. My children, especially my 11 year old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!"

Griffin took enormous incoming fire after a photo of her holding a model of Donald Trump's severed head went viral for all the wrong reasons.

"Crooked" Hillary Clinton

Trump has mocked Hillary plenty of times, but recently on November 18, Trump tweeted, "Crooked Hillary Clinton is the worst (and biggest) loser of all time. She just can’t stop, which is so good for the Republican Party. Hillary, get on with your life and give it another try in three years!"Not much explanation needed here. Trump bested "Crooked" Hillary in 2016 and seems intent on reminding us for ever and ever and ever.

Sadiq Khan

On June 5, Trump tweeted, "Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his "no reason to be alarmed" statement. MSM is working hard to sell it!"

When terrorism strikes London, the city's Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, often finds himself in Trump's crosshairs.

Loretta Lynch

On June 13, Trump tweeted,

"A.G. Lynch made law enforcement decisions for political purposes...gave Hillary Clinton a free pass and protection. Totally illegal!"Lynch took a widely-criticized social meeting with Bill Clinton at an airport during the 2016 campaign and Trump has been complaining about it ever since.

Joe Scarborough and Mika "Bleeding Face" Brzezinski

On June 29, Trump tweeted,

"I heard poorly rated @Morning_Joe speaks badly of me (don't watch anymore). Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came o Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Year's Eve, and insisted on joining me. She was bleeding badly from a face-lift. I said no!"Widely considered one of Trump's nastiest burns, the president was likely incensed by something the pair said on "Morning Joe."

Jeff Sessions

On July 25, Trump tweeted,"Attorney General Jeff Sessions has taken a VERY weak position on Hillary Clinton crimes (where are E-mails & DNC server) & Intel leakers!"

Trump went through a rough patch with his Attorney General and has long been cranky about Session's decision to recuse himself from the Russia probe.

Andrew McCabe

On July 25, Trump tweeted,

"Problem is that the acting head of the FBI & the person in charge of the Hillary investigation, Andrew McCabe, got $700,000 from H for wife!"Donations made to Hillary Clinton by the wife of the FBI's then acting chief didn't sit well with Trump.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

On July 26, Trump tweeted.

"Senator @lisamurkowski of the Great State of Alaska really let the Republicans, and our country, down yesterday. Too bad!"

Murkowski helped kill Trump's dream to repeal Obamacare and the president wanted to let her know how upset he was. But don't worry -- she voted in favor of the tax cut bill just a few months later.

Sen. Mitch McConnell

On August 24, Trump tweeted,

"The only problem I have with Mitch McConnell is that, after hearing Repeal & Replace for 7 years, he failed! That should NEVER have happened!"

Ken Frazier

On August 14, Trump tweeted

"Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President's Manufacturing Council,he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!"

Sen. Lindsey Graham

On August 17, Trump tweeted:"Publicity seeking Lindsey Graham falsely stated that I said there is moral equivalency between the KKK, neo-Nazis & white supremacists. and people like Ms. Heyer. Such a disgusting lie. He just can't forget his election trouncing. The people of South Carolina will remember!"Graham has occasionally lightly criticized Trump and the president doesn't appreciate it

Sen. Jeff Flake

On August 17, Trump tweeted:"Great to see that Dr. Kelli Ward is running against Flake Jeff Flake, who is WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He's toxic!"

Flake has become the president toughest GOP critic in the Senate and Trump has not shied from giving it right back. Guess who voted for Trump's tax bill a few months later.